TURTLE

I finally reached Robbin. She is in rehab and said her knee is healing nicely. She said she hasn't had internet for awhile but is about ready to get it back. She said when she got out of surgery she got a letter from her placement at the assisted living facility advising her she can not go back. She doesn't know why. The rehab place said she can stay there, but they won't allow Sunny, her service dog. They allow the blind to have service dogs, but not her with her seizures. She called the prison that trained Sunny, and the trainer is talking to the facility's social worker about Robbin's need for Sunny. If they can get Sunny ok'd, she will stay and get internet hooked up again. I suggested the ACLU or legal aid to help her, but she said she was too tired to fight. She promised to keep in touch.

I told her a lot of you were asking about her and that made her feel good.

I am so relieved to hear that Robbin is okay! I have been thinking about her and wondering what was going on with her. So happy she is on the mend, but so sad about Sunny. :( I am wondering if the facility thinks she won't be able to take care of Sunny as far as bringing it outside? Robbin must have been taking Sunny out where she lived before though, and once she is done getting her knee "back" she will be able to again. Does not make sense to me, and breaks my heart for her. I can't imagine not having my dog, and she isn't even a service dog.I think a call to ACLU or another placement would be in order, and I'm glad to hear her social worker is on top of that.I would love to have an address for snail mail too. Since she is without the internet, it would lift her spirits to get "real" mail from everyone who wanted to send it. Pat or Suzie, would you check with her and see if she would be willing to share her address? Perhaps it could be sent to the inboxes of folks who want it instead of publishing it on a discussion page if she is concerned about privacy.Thank you Pat and Suzie!Hugs,Sal :)

I'm glad Turtle's doing better, but that stinks that she can't bring Sunny with her. Speaks to the ignorance of the nursing home. Dogs can sense when an epileptic seizure is coming on and are trained to help their master when it does. I've seen them make their person sit down, so they don't fall down and injure themselves when the seizure hits. My sister is epileptic and her seizures aren't controlled. We'd looked into a service dog for her, but she's not functional enough to take care of it. She's in assisted living, BTW, and there are a couple service dogs at the facility.

The seizures are bad enough - but so are the injuries from falls. My sis has, over the years, broken ribs, her collarbone, her arm, and put way too many gashes in her head from falling during a seizure. She now has memory problems because of all the times she's fallen and hit her head. (Won't wear a helmet, though, too self-conscious.)

I am relieved Turtle is ok. and sad she is being forced to be separated from her companion. i shall pray for her situation that the decision makers find grace in their hearts to allow her to be with sunny. please give her my love and regards.

I want to thank you for sharing about turtle. She has been on my mind andheart. I hope they find away for her to keep sunny. I think it would devastateher if she lost him. There has to be a way around it. Can you get an addressthat we could send snail mail cards? Tell her that she is thought of, andprayed for, and that we can't wait for her to rejoin us. I hope she can get herhook up soon. That way we can all offer contact and encouragement.Again thanks for keeping us updated.

Woops, Glad I checked before I STARTED a discussion on Turtle! She had called me this eveing while we were gone, I returned her call as quickly as I could, she sounds so depressed!! I know that she is missing Sunny desperately, her light of hope and support. Was also sad that she wouldn't have access to the internet for awhile and wanted me to post this too, to let her friends here know how and where she is.

I have nothing to add to Suzie's detailed message, she said it better than I could anyway, as long as we know that she is gaining her strength but needs support desperately!!

Pat, I am sorry to have jump on this before you had a chance. Robbin had said she had talked to you earlier, and when I saw you hadn't posted, I went ahead and did it. And, I am sure I left something out, and could not have done a better job than you. I was so relieved to have finally reached her, that I wanted to put other minds to rest as well. Hugs, soul sister.

This breaks my heart…I wish they wouldn't separate her from her dog :( I think to be in assisted living you have to still be able to be independent (but may need aid at times)…they must feel she is no longer able to do that…I'm sure the rehab has nursing facilities attached so that will maybe be an easier transition…Its so sad to me though that they dont realize that although she'll be in a nursing home and getting complete care, that her service dog is more then service and adds to her quality of life and they've relied on each other already…I sure hope someone finds a way to allow her to have her companion…its so important :-/

I do too, Deb!! Her dog means ALL to her!! I would certainly be depressed if my resuce dog were not able to be with me, I FELT that she loved and accepted me, no matter what, she could sense the GOOD in ME—as I could her, giving her her antibiotics after that leg bone came thru her flesh—-both legs were broken, I discovered at the vets—the vet warned us of arthritis, limping etc, but I limp too, and no one has shot me—yet! haha—We still can just look into each other's eyes, and I am not afraid to let the warm juices flow thru my body—-she gently closes her eyes and meditates with me—-I think—-haha—Robbin had much the same relationship with her dog, and a lot of similar reasons as to why—Some animals are ESSENTIAL to the well-being of most people! Pat R

She told me if she couldn't work it out at the rehab place, she would have her social worker find her another place. I think the ACLU would love this discrimination case. It is not as if Sunny were a pet, he is Robbin's life line. He can get help when she has a seizure…and is trained like a guide dog is trained!

Suzie, this is what I mean, you are a woman of action, and I LOVE THAT!! Please keep us all posted on her struggles—I too was thinking of a discrimination case, even with the diabetits, being too complicated to cook for—-plus her soul mate, Sunny—But I have no idea of how to go about helping her, or others, other than praying that things will work out, but you have a way helping them to happen. Like you looked me up after my surgery in Wichita when I barely knew you and asking how I was doing!! I so appreciated that call, not even my son who is a PA, went to that trouble —he lives in Idaho, and I EXPECTED something from him—-but not one word.

Thanks for understanding, Pat. Used to think I should become a personal shopper while I was working at Penney's. Now I wonder if being an ombudsman would be a good fit! Gotta call Robbin and tell her to call which ever news station has that kind of service. Here, all the TV stations look into callers troubles and make things happen. With your ideas Pat, and my "do it now", we would be dangerous!!! Hugs

PS Just called Robbin and left a message on her phone about this and that everyone asked about her and some wanted an address to send a card. Will let you know if she has a response.